Alhamdulillah - Assessment shows eastern coast ecosystems in Saudi Arabia generally healthy
Assalamualaikum - A new nationwide assessment by the National Center for Wildlife found that the environment along Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast is largely in good condition after their first full survey.
They visited more than 400 locations during 2024 and 2025 and looked at important marine and coastal habitats like coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove stands, and mudflats. Working with international specialists, they used standard field approaches - underwater photography and satellite sensing among them - to build a solid scientific record.
Highlights included coral cover around 22% with bleaching kept below 2%, and dominant coral types such as Porites and Merulina showing strong tolerance to tough conditions. Seagrass meadows appeared stable in most places. Mangroves were estimated at about 1,573 hectares and looked healthy, especially near Ras Tanura and Tarout Island.
Field teams counted over 80,000 fish across 90 species and also confirmed sightings of larger marine life like dugongs, dolphins, turtles, sharks, and rays - reminding us of the Arabian Gulf’s role as an important habitat. Bird surveys recorded 176,836 individuals from 69 species, peaking during fall migration, and observers noted a new national record with Franklin’s gull. Tarout Bay and Dammam Corniche were singled out as key breeding and gathering areas.
Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the wildlife center, said the findings show the Kingdom’s commitment to using science to protect the marine environment, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative. He stressed that caring for these habitats supports biodiversity, climate resilience, and food security, and that the survey data will help guide national conservation plans and sustainable development.
May Allah help us preserve these blessings for future generations.
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